Meal planning resources

[Anonymous]

for a mom who is an idiot when it comes to planning meals - we eat out most meals and I want to change that but I find planning and preparing meals impossibly stressful.

[Anonymous]

What's stressful about them exactly? (not being snarky - actually asking!)

IF it's the grocery shopping - try something like PeaPod. OFr a small fee you can just order what you want online & someone will bring it to you.

If it's the cooking start small... like baked ziti and salad (brown ground beef with Italian seasoning, mix in cheese, cooked pasta, and jarred sauce. 10 min effort total. Salad is just chopping veggies!)

If it's the actual planning, try a site like epicurious and read the recipes under "menus" (e.g.,)

http://www.epicurious.com/recipesmenus/quickeasy/menus

Or google "meal prep beginner" and you'll get lots of stuff.

Cooking as a semi-steep initial learning curve, but if you keep at it a week or two in you should feel much better about your abilities!

[Anonymous]

Just fyi - there's a decent chance this thread will be moved to the cooking forum...

[Anonymous]

I think it's the overall organization around food and the may steps it takes to make food from start to finish. For starters, we can usually only seem to come up with 4 or 5 meal ideas - total (not per week). So finding recipes that seem simple and quick but not the same as what we're already eating is overwhelming. Also getting all the ingredients together. It seems like recipes that have lots of ingredients create a lot of waste. So I spend $5 on a package or two of fresh herbs and then use a tbsp and throw the rest out. Then the actual steps to cooking are challenging. Lastly, the cleanup doesn't seem to happen in time for the next meal. So there you have it. Eating out is easier and that's what we do. We would like to change this but I barely have the time to write this post let alone figure out how to cook.

[Anonymous]

OP~ if you truly don't know where to start:
Buy chicken breasts, porkchops, a fish and steaks. Assume one small piece per person. Buy these individually frozen or separate and freeze yourself.
You can cook on the stove frozen in shallow water. Cut through to make sure fully cooked.

Buy rice, a dry pasta. Can make ahead. Keep refrigerated. Use throughout the week.

Buy several different green vegetables: broccoli, asparagus, brussel sprouts.

Pair different ones together. You don't need a recipe. This is a real a minimalist approach - I truly assumed you knew nothing.

[Anonymous]

OP start one meal at a time, don't just try to go cold turkey. It's much more overwhelming. I would recommend your first day trying a crock pot recipe. Can't get much easier than that. Then I like to spend a few hours on Sunday prepping for the week. I make a lot of stuff that freezes well, which makes it easier for during the week.

You'll also want to make things that are easy to repurpose. For instance tomorrow I'm getting/cooking a chicken (throwing a chicken in a pot with water to cover, carrots, onions, garlic, celery, and herbs and boiling for about 3-4 hours) which will yield me about 8-10 cups of amazing chicken broth plus a full cooked chicken. Meat will go into pasta or rice dishes, tossed into a tortilla with cheese for a quick chicken quesidilla, etc.

But most importantly, honestly, just take it one meal at a time. It's far more stressful if you make a drastic change.

[Anonymous]

Get on Pinterest, find some simple recipes and dive in. I can't even imagine what your spending on all those meals out.
Like PP said, start easy: A protein, something easily broiled/grilled. Add a side, we do potatoes, rice, pasta, etc and then throw in a veggie. I like to use fresh, but don't beat myself up if a throw a bag of steamable beans into the microwave!

[Anonymous]

This book is very helpful on how to set up a pantry:

http://www.amazon.com/Monday---Friday-Cookbook-Michele-Urvater-ebook/dp/B00EG09YH0/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1408815807&sr=1-1&keywords=monday+to+friday+cookbook

It's helpful to have the basics in place.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think it's the overall organization around food and the may steps it takes to make food from start to finish. For starters, we can usually only seem to come up with 4 or 5 meal ideas - total (not per week). So finding recipes that seem simple and quick but not the same as what we're already eating is overwhelming. Also getting all the ingredients together. It seems like recipes that have lots of ingredients create a lot of waste. So I spend $5 on a package or two of fresh herbs and then use a tbsp and throw the rest out. Then the actual steps to cooking are challenging. Lastly, the cleanup doesn't seem to happen in time for the next meal. So there you have it. Eating out is easier and that's what we do. We would like to change this but I barely have the time to write this post let alone figure out how to cook.

I would look at something like Rachel Ray's 'week in a day' type of cooking. That way, you can spread the ingredients over several dishes. I would also stick to simple meals so you don't have to buy too may things.
Herbs such as rosemary, thyme and oregano are good when dried, so there will be less waste that way. I usually cook and freeze our lunches and dinners on the weekend. Then it only involves putting together a salad or side dish for dinner.
A basic cooking class may be helpful to figure out techniques.

[Anonymous]

I started by listing what our family likes to eat, and what I felt alright cooking. Made a list of those.

Then, chose a couple of days to cook for. Made a list of what I needed for those meals and went and picked up just that. Went from there.

Eventually out of necessity I was planning for a month at a time. Lunch and supper, doing one huge list. It doesn't need to be that overwhelming.

Choose your calmest days so you have time to prep.

[Anonymous]

PP here, maybe this can help

http://lifeasmom.com/2010/06/meal-planning-for-the-beginner.html

[Anonymous]

I just keep it very simple

Monday - "Meatless Monday". Pasta, soup and sandwiches, salads....

Tuesday -"Taco Tuesday". Not always tacos, but Mexican food or Tex Mex

Wednesday - "Whatever Wednesday". Something in the Crock Pot

Thursday - "Throwback Thursday". a.k.a. Leftovers

Friday -"Stir Fryday"

Saturday - Breakfast for supper

Sunday- We always go out for a big Sunday meal after church. Everyone is on their own Sunday night.

Having a loose framework makes it really easy to plan meals.

[Anonymous]

the scramble

http://www.thescramble.com

or saving dinner

http://savingdinner.com

or the fresh 20

http://www.thefresh20.com

are all decent

comparison of them and others:

http://www.100daysofrealfood.com/2012/07/10/product-review-meal-plans/

[Anonymous]

If you don't know how to cook I'd choose 6 o clock scramble or saving dinner.

6 o clock is a little more "whole foods" and saving dinner is a little more processed foods. I think

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think it's the overall organization around food and the may steps it takes to make food from start to finish. For starters, we can usually only seem to come up with 4 or 5 meal ideas - total (not per week). So finding recipes that seem simple and quick but not the same as what we're already eating is overwhelming. Also getting all the ingredients together. It seems like recipes that have lots of ingredients create a lot of waste. So I spend $5 on a package or two of fresh herbs and then use a tbsp and throw the rest out. Then the actual steps to cooking are challenging. Lastly, the cleanup doesn't seem to happen in time for the next meal. So there you have it. Eating out is easier and that's what we do. We would like to change this but I barely have the time to write this post let alone figure out how to cook.

1.) For starters, we can usually only seem to come up with 4 or 5 meal ideas - total (not per week). : What do you guys like to eat when you go out? I very much doubt that your first foray into cooking will create the same meal, but it's a good place to start. When you go out, write down (or take a pic, whatev) of the ingredients listed on the menu for what you pick. Then google "recipe" "beginner" and then the list of ingredients. Take one night and try the recipe. Do it over and over to see what you like and don't like. (hint: Don't try scallops, duck, venison or anything that's not "usual" for the "beginner" phase... it won't end well Save it for your "intermediate" phase!) On the other hand...crab legs are WAY easier than you would think!

2.) I spend $5 on a package or two of fresh herbs and then use a tbsp and throw the rest out Herbs can be saved several ways. You can cut the ends off and keep them for a few days in a vase like flowers. THey can also be frozen. Google "how to store fresh herbs" and you'll find lots of ways to cut back on waste. You could also make a particular herb a "theme" for the week. For example - Rosemary works well with chicken, beef and pork. pick recipes for each meat that use rosemary and go from there. Also, dried herbs are just fine - google conversions for any particular herb, but in general, 1 teaspoon of the dried herb = 1 tablespoon of the fresh (dried have a more concentrated flavor)


3.) We would like to change this but I barely have the time to write this post let alone figure out how to cook: Just start REALLY small... You can always go to a grocery store, get a rotisserie chicken (or from the "fancier" stores like Wegmans, get a pre-prepared meal that you just have to put in the oven), steam broccoli and heat up bread. Once you get that down, try something more advanced (e.g., same sides, just grill your own chicken).


If I can go from thinking "fancy" food was bologna and a green pepper sautéed and mixed into spaghetti was impressive (true story - gotta love the broke college years) to being able to throw together an easy meal of lobster and filet mignon in champagne sauce without blinking, anyone can do it!

Good luck!